And so it is Christmas….
Though it is a time to commemorate the birth of Jesus, it has grown to encompass a universal message celebrating love, togetherness and generosity, virtues that go beyond religion or culture. The world seems to pause for a moment and remember kindness. Whether it is gift giving, donating to a cause, volunteering to help in a charity or showing your appreciation to the mail person these thoughtful acts are just as beneficial for the giver as for the receiver.
Traditionally a time of joy, family and friends connecting and celebrating together though for others it may be a time of reflection, remembering those who are no longer with us or loneliness. To be honest, for me it is a bit melancholy. I think past celebrations with loved ones who are gone and remember the magical moments when my children were young, their excitement lighting up the season. As the years go by I find myself becoming more reflective. Christmas has become a time to focus on the blessings of life and feeling grateful for the relationships with family and friends that sustain us.
Christmas in Ikaria is more relaxed compared to other places. On Christmas Eve day the youngsters go house to house and shop to shop singing Christmas Carols. Christmas day is often spent over lunch with friends or family to enjoy the day together. It is also the name days of Christo, Christina, Manolis, and Emmanuella so the day often involves visiting homes to wish a happy name day-and of course this means more food and wine. My husband would refer to Christmas as a “mobile holiday” as we seldom stayed at just one house.
May this Christmas be filled with peace, kindness, love and hope and may the magic of Christmas remind us of the beauty of life… And hopefully, we can keep this feeling with us throughout the year..
Happy holidays to you and yours.
Merry Christmas Thea & family OPA 🎄